THE MATERNITY
BENEFIT
ACT,1961
INTRODUCTION
• THE MATERNITY BENEFIT ACT,1961
• ACT NO.53 OF 1961
• 12th DEC, 1961
“An act to regulate the employment
of women in certain establishments
for certain periods before and after
child-birth and to provide for
maternity benefit and certain other
benefits”
OBJECTIVE
• To protect the dignity of motherhood by
providing complete and healthy care to
women and her child when she is unable to
perform her duty
• To give the assurance that her rights will be
looked after while she so at home to take
care for her child
APPLICABILITY
The act extends to
whole of India except
the state of Jammu
and Kashmir
It applies to every
establishment be in a
factory, mine or
plantation including
those belonging to
government.
It applies to every
establishment
wherein persons are
employed for
exhibition of
equestrian,
acrobatics and other
performances.
It also applies to
every shop or
establishment in
which 10 or more
persons are or
where employed on
any day of the
preceding 12
months.
The act is not
applicable on any
factory or other
establishment to
which the provision
of employee state
insurance act,1948
apply.
Who is eligible?
Every women shall be entitled to maternity benefits by her employer and the payment at the rate of average daily
wages for the period of her actual absence
Woman who has worked in any establishment for a period not less than 80 days in the 12 months immediately
preceding the date of her expected delivery.
Women earning less than 15,000 may be offered ESI scheme by her employer and will not be entitled for
maternity benefit.
Women falling under section 5A are exception and by under section 5(2) they are entitles for maternity benefits if she
has worked for the period of seventy days in twelve months immediately preceding the date of her expected delivery
What
should be
done by
employee?
She should give notice in writing in the prescribed form that her
maternity benefits may be paid to her or to her nominee.
She should notify that she will not work in any establishment
during the period for which she receives maternity benefit.
She has to inform about her absence from work from the
date which shall not be earlier than 6 weeks before the
date of her expected delivery
The notice may be given during the pregnancy or as soon as possible,
after the delivery.
Cash benefits
• Payment of maternity benefits in case of death of a woman:
The amount of benefits shall be given to person nominated by the woman
and in case there is no such nominee, to her legal representative.
• Payment of medical bonus:
The medical bonus of two hundred and fifty rupees is to be given by
woman’s employer
• Leave for miscarriage etc:
The woman after producing the proof is entitled to leave with wages at the
rate of maternity benefit, for a period of six weeks immediately following the
day of her miscarriage.
• Leave with wages for tubectomy operation:
In this case the women after producing the proof is entitled to leave
with wages at the rate of maternity benefit for a period of two weeks
immediately following the day of her tubectomy operation.
• Leaver for illness arising out of pregnancy, delivery, premature birth of
child ,[miscarriage, medical termination of pregnancy or tubectomy
operation]:
In this case after producing proof she will be entitled in addition to the
period of absence allowed, to leave with wages at the rate of maternity
benefit for maximum period of one month.
Leave with
average pay for 8
weeks before
delivery
Leave with
average pay for
18 weeks after
the delivery
Total “26 weeks”
leave with
average pay (for
2 surviving
children)
• Leave with average pay for more than 2 children
• For “commissioning mother” and “adopting mother” (below three months child)
26 weeks
• In case of miscarriage, with average pay from the date of miscarriage.
6 weeks
• In case of tubectomy, leave with wages from the date of tubectomy
2 weeks
• If the woman shows proof of illness due to the pregnancy, delivery, miscarriage, or
premature birth.
Extra 4 weeks
Non – cash benefits
• Nursing breaks:
She will be entitled in addition to the interval for rest allowed to her, be
allowed two breaks of prescribed duration for nursing the child until
the child attains the ages of fifteen months.
• No discharge or dismiss while on maternity leave.
• No deduction of wages in case of breaks for nursing the child.
• Light work for 10 weeks(6 weeks plus 1 month) before delivery.
Duties and penalty for employer
• Record management:
Every employer need to prepare and maintain register, records and
muster-rolls as may be prescribed.
• Penalty for contravention of act by employer:
if any employer fails to pay any amount of maternity benefit or
discharges or dismisses the woman who is entitled under this act, he
shall be punishable with
• imprisonment up to 1 year
• The minimum being 3 months and Rs.2000 respectively &
• fine up to Rs.5000
“ Working mothers duration of maternity leave around the world ”
Thank you

maternity act ppt

  • 1.
  • 2.
    INTRODUCTION • THE MATERNITYBENEFIT ACT,1961 • ACT NO.53 OF 1961 • 12th DEC, 1961 “An act to regulate the employment of women in certain establishments for certain periods before and after child-birth and to provide for maternity benefit and certain other benefits”
  • 3.
    OBJECTIVE • To protectthe dignity of motherhood by providing complete and healthy care to women and her child when she is unable to perform her duty • To give the assurance that her rights will be looked after while she so at home to take care for her child
  • 4.
    APPLICABILITY The act extendsto whole of India except the state of Jammu and Kashmir It applies to every establishment be in a factory, mine or plantation including those belonging to government. It applies to every establishment wherein persons are employed for exhibition of equestrian, acrobatics and other performances. It also applies to every shop or establishment in which 10 or more persons are or where employed on any day of the preceding 12 months. The act is not applicable on any factory or other establishment to which the provision of employee state insurance act,1948 apply.
  • 5.
    Who is eligible? Everywomen shall be entitled to maternity benefits by her employer and the payment at the rate of average daily wages for the period of her actual absence Woman who has worked in any establishment for a period not less than 80 days in the 12 months immediately preceding the date of her expected delivery. Women earning less than 15,000 may be offered ESI scheme by her employer and will not be entitled for maternity benefit. Women falling under section 5A are exception and by under section 5(2) they are entitles for maternity benefits if she has worked for the period of seventy days in twelve months immediately preceding the date of her expected delivery
  • 6.
    What should be done by employee? Sheshould give notice in writing in the prescribed form that her maternity benefits may be paid to her or to her nominee. She should notify that she will not work in any establishment during the period for which she receives maternity benefit. She has to inform about her absence from work from the date which shall not be earlier than 6 weeks before the date of her expected delivery The notice may be given during the pregnancy or as soon as possible, after the delivery.
  • 7.
    Cash benefits • Paymentof maternity benefits in case of death of a woman: The amount of benefits shall be given to person nominated by the woman and in case there is no such nominee, to her legal representative. • Payment of medical bonus: The medical bonus of two hundred and fifty rupees is to be given by woman’s employer • Leave for miscarriage etc: The woman after producing the proof is entitled to leave with wages at the rate of maternity benefit, for a period of six weeks immediately following the day of her miscarriage.
  • 8.
    • Leave withwages for tubectomy operation: In this case the women after producing the proof is entitled to leave with wages at the rate of maternity benefit for a period of two weeks immediately following the day of her tubectomy operation. • Leaver for illness arising out of pregnancy, delivery, premature birth of child ,[miscarriage, medical termination of pregnancy or tubectomy operation]: In this case after producing proof she will be entitled in addition to the period of absence allowed, to leave with wages at the rate of maternity benefit for maximum period of one month.
  • 9.
    Leave with average payfor 8 weeks before delivery Leave with average pay for 18 weeks after the delivery Total “26 weeks” leave with average pay (for 2 surviving children) • Leave with average pay for more than 2 children • For “commissioning mother” and “adopting mother” (below three months child) 26 weeks • In case of miscarriage, with average pay from the date of miscarriage. 6 weeks • In case of tubectomy, leave with wages from the date of tubectomy 2 weeks • If the woman shows proof of illness due to the pregnancy, delivery, miscarriage, or premature birth. Extra 4 weeks
  • 10.
    Non – cashbenefits • Nursing breaks: She will be entitled in addition to the interval for rest allowed to her, be allowed two breaks of prescribed duration for nursing the child until the child attains the ages of fifteen months. • No discharge or dismiss while on maternity leave. • No deduction of wages in case of breaks for nursing the child. • Light work for 10 weeks(6 weeks plus 1 month) before delivery.
  • 11.
    Duties and penaltyfor employer • Record management: Every employer need to prepare and maintain register, records and muster-rolls as may be prescribed. • Penalty for contravention of act by employer: if any employer fails to pay any amount of maternity benefit or discharges or dismisses the woman who is entitled under this act, he shall be punishable with • imprisonment up to 1 year • The minimum being 3 months and Rs.2000 respectively & • fine up to Rs.5000
  • 13.
    “ Working mothersduration of maternity leave around the world ”
  • 15.